How to Repair Leather Chairs From Cat Claws

Cats living in the home often make incredible roommates, with a few exceptions. Furniture clawing is a natural behavior for cats who simply wish to exercise and stretch muscles while maintaining healthy claws. When you have invested in leather furniture, however, that natural behavior becomes damaging and frustrating. Rather than replacing expensive leather furnishings, sometimes leather furniture can be repaired using leather repair products. These products are available individually or in kits used to mend damage to different types of leather furniture.

Scissors or nail clippers
Sandpaper, 320p and 1200p
Alcohol-based leather cleaner and cloth
Heavy leather filler
Palette knife
Leather colorant
Sponge
Lacquer

Instructions

- 1
  Cut away any small bits of leather, fibers or strings attached to the damaged area. Use scissors or even small nail clippers for this task.
- 2
  Sand the damaged area to further clear away damaged leather pieces and to smooth the area for treatment. Use 320p sandpaper first for leather bit removal then use 1200p sandpaper to smooth it all out.
- 3
  Clean the area using an alcohol-based leather cleaning product. Allow the cleaner to evaporate from the area for at least 10 minutes.
- 4
  Fill in the scratch marks using a heavy leather filler. Apply the filler to the damaged areas using a palette knife. Let the filler dry for five minutes.
- 5
  Sand the area using 1200p sandpaper to even out the filler and further fill in the damaged spots.
- 6
  Dab leather colorant over the damaged area with a sponge. Choose a colorant in a shade that matches or is close to the shade of your furniture. Apply one coat of colorant and allow it to dry. Apply one more coating of colorant to the damaged area.
- 7
  Check the finish of the dried colorant on the leather. If the area still appears damaged or if the scratches look more prominent, apply more filler to the area then sand with 1200p sandpaper followed by more colorant until the damage is not noticeable. If the finish of the leather looks repaired and unnoticeable, proceed to the next step.
- 8
  Apply a coat of lacquer to the leather to restore the natural shine of the leather. Allow the lacquer to dry for several hours or overnight before using the leather furniture.

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